There's a Lot to Lose by Building I-69

By Thomas Tokarski
Bloomington Independent, April 29, 1999

Myths die hard. Some people still believe that interstate highways are economic saviors. They say that Bloomington's transportation system is inadequate because it doesn't have an interstate. They insist that we need I-69 if our economy is to prosper. In spite of that, few people would dispute that we are doing well now. If our transportation system is bad, why are we doing so well?

Based on current research by transportation experts, Bloomington's highway access is sufficient for most businesses. Since reliability is now more important than size, the maintenance and repair of existing roads is a more effective way to improve transportation.

Hired-gun economists may say we need an interstate through Bloomington/Monroe County, but their opinions are based more on their sources of funding than on good economic principles.

Bloomington's economy is doing very well. Indeed, the economy of most of Southwestern Indiana is doing well. If you don't believe this, check the statistics. SW Indiana counties are much better off than many counties on existing interstates, including counties on existing I-69.

I-69 boosters in Greene County attempt to frighten people into supporting this highway. They declare that their highway is necessary to keep the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Crane open. They don't mention that in base closings around the nation, from 1991 to 1995, 88 percent of the bases closed were on or near an interstate highway.

In a recent newspaper report, Crane naval commander Capt. William Shotts stated: "I have no fear of a (base closure)." (Bloomington Herald-Times April 25, 1999).

Why then do some community leaders support I-69? Besides a persistent belief in the myth that development requires interstates, there is the politics of road building. In the past this has been a potent vote-getter. There is also the belief that you should never turn down something free. If the Federal Government wants to give us a free interstate why not take it? What have we got to lose?

Unfortunately, there is a great deal to lose. I-69 will not be free. It will inflict tremendous damages and costs on Bloomington/Monroe County and all of Southwest Indiana. This will be a major, international, NAFTA truck corridor. Its promoters brag that it will be one of the most massive truck routes on the entire continent.

A few of the losses due to I-69 include: 3,000 acres of farmland will be taken. A large Amish community will be split. Forty local roads will be closed. These impacts will severely disrupt the agricultural economy and local travel throughout this region.

One thousand acres of forests will be lost. The largest wetland in SW Indiana will be split.

Numerous rivers and streams will be crossed, in some cases altering drainage patterns and increasing flooding. Numerous threatened, endangered, and species of special concern will be put at greater risk due to lost and altered habitat and highway-related pollution. The sprawl that follows an interstate will compound all of these problems and losses. The impacts on Bloomington/Monroe County will be severe. An estimated 10,000 trucks and tens of thousands of cars will run through Bloomington every day. This will bring greatly increased air, water, and noise pollution to our community. It will increase congestion and accidents, especially accidents involving large trucks.

Downtown businesses will suffer as uncontrollable development sprawls all along what is now Ind. 37. The community will be split by this limited access highway, increasing demands for infrastructure and emergency services. This inevitably leads to increases in local taxes.

Crime and drugs are integral fellow travelers on interstates. This is well understood by law enforcement agencies.

Inevitably, the quality of life in Bloomington/Monroe County will be seriously degraded. Anyone who supports I-69 coming to Bloomington supports all of these destructive impacts--they all come with the highway.

Bloomington/Monroe County are not without problems. Often these come not from having too little growth but from too much growth. Out-of-control development leads to congestion, more accidents, and degradation of our environment and quality of life.

It is naive to think that planning and zoning will be able to control this growth. They certainly haven't prevented current problems. We can't build I-69 and then decide later we don't want it and rip it out. If it is built, it will be here forever.

To our city and county leaders I would emphasis this: Do not accept the myth of highways as economic lynch pins. Read the independent studies, talk to the researchers in the area of economic development who are not beholding to special interests.

You can best improve a place by building upon its strength, not by ripping its heart out. We can best say "Yes" to this beautiful, productive part of Indiana by saying "No" to I-69.

Bloomington Independent, April 29, 1999